Led by their native county’s motto (“An Example to Ireland”), the passionate supporters of Wexford FC do everything they can, to be a community that advocates the progress of its young people’s sporting spirit. Even before the Wexford football club received its license to play in Ireland’s First Division League, it had a large following of people which consisted of the many teams’ relatives and friends. Today, the solid fanbase of this club is not only significantly more significant but also spans over the neighbouring countries as well! On this website, you will learn not only about us, the fans but also our reasons for supporting the most excellent football club in Ireland!
While it is true that in our FC support community, and some were fans longer than others, we don’t discriminate – and there is a reason for that. Wexford FC was established in 2007, which can be considered as a “young” team; it is also one of the many reasons why Wexford FC was initially nicknamed “the Youths”. On the other hand, we, as fans, had to endure on more than one occasion, the silent ridicule of other fans, for supporting a new football club. Sadly, in the eyes of some, if you’re not a part of a team that has a history spanning for over half a century, you don’t classify as a “real fan”. Our perseverance, however, has proved them otherwise.
Just as Chelsea FC has a supporter’s club in Wexford county, so do “The Youths” are being revered in other parts of Ireland. We should mention that every province is highly passionate about their native football teams - while it is a rare occurrence that Wexford FC fans are found outside of Wexford, they are dedicated to the team and its achievements in the sport. On this website, you will learn about fans who are not even Irelanders!
A big thank you to all of our supporters!
Joining the “Supporter’s Trust” of Wexford FC will instantly make you an “official fan”, and give you a variety of responsibility-oriented benefits! Wexford FC is genuinely owned by the fans, and once you join, you will be issued a unique member number and also given a “share certificate” signifying your ownership part. Furthermore, members that have signed up will have voting rights at every general meeting, including the right to vote for a “Player of the Year”. Members also receive free entries into all “underage” games, exclusive access to “invite-only” forums, a Co-Op newsletter, and more.
On the official website of Wexford FC, there will be a “ready-to-download” application form. People who wish to sign up to the “Supporter’s Trust” will need to fill out the form and send it via email, or go to Ferrycarrig Park, and hand-deliver it to an official club member. After the evaluation of your application, you can contact the Club’s support team, and they will assist you with your membership payment.
Known as “Ferrycarrig Park” the stadium which Wexford FC calls “home” was built in 2003. Although more akin to an open “football playing field” rather than an actual “stadium”, Ferrycarrig Park has been upgraded throughout the years since it was opened for the first time, and today offers a temporary seat stand which can house approximately 600 people. Although a bit “minimalistic” in design, the stadium does feature facilities such as a restaurant, wine bar, and dressing rooms (all located in the south-west corner of the stadium).
When in 2008 Wexford was hosting the “League Cup Final” event, additional temporary stands were installed on all sides of the stadium, raising its capacity to more than 2,000 seats. Since then, Ferrycarrig Park was (again) returned to its minimum capacity accommodations. While there are plans to build the stadium with the maximum possible number of seats, legal challenges with the construction of additional facilities, have put the development of Ferrycarrig Park in a “stalemate”. The fans of Wexford FC are fully engaged in resolving the issue, as the stadium itself is part of the origin of the WFC.
Positioned in near proximity of the stadium’s south-west end, is the main Wexford FC building. Behind it, are the previously mentioned buildings, including the “Supporter’s Bar”. Just like any other legitimate football team, the clubhouse needs to be near the training/ playing field. While to many onlookers Ferrycarrig doesn’t seem like much, one of the greatest Irish FC’s calls this open playing field “home”.
When it comes to international supporters of Wexford FC, nobody can beat the kiwis. In some cases, proving to be more passionate even than native fans, New Zealanders care for Wexford FC in the way they would do for their local teams. Kiwis are known to be a very tightly-knit community, and the football’s club’s motto “Stronger Together” truly resonates with them on a personal level. Perhaps, this is one of the main reasons why there are a good number of Wexford FC fans in New Zealand. In this article, we will meet our New Zealand fan colleagues, and learn more about what it means to be a fan of the “Youths” abroad.
One of the most interesting facts about the Wexford FC New Zealand supporters is that their chapter of the fan club was established almost at the same time the team received its license to play in Ireland’s First Division League. To make a long story short, a member of the Supporter’s Trust visited some relatives in “The Land of the Long Cloud”, and ended up meeting another football fan, which was inspired by Wexford FC’s message.
Auckland native, Ryan Smith, was that fan, that would change the way many New Zealanders perceived fans of “foreign teams”, and change his community for the better.
“What made a massive impression on me, was the fact that Wexford FC was essentially owned by the fans, but that was only one of the factors that made me dedicate myself to creating a New Zealand chapter of the Wexford FC. The message of “helping youths prosper through the power of sport” is a very pure one, and it shouldn’t be limited to only one region or club; however, it is because Wexford FC is “operated” by the fans, the message’s real value isn’t lost in mindless politics.”
Wexford FC owes its origins to one person in particular – a certain mister Mick Wallace, who is an Irish politician and a TD within the parliament. Although the team received a license to play in the First Division of League of Ireland in 2007, it is speculated, that the organisation itself began a few years prior to that. Mr Wallace not only established the football club but also funded the construction of Ferrycarrig Park stadium, which is the “home” playing field for Wexford FC.
Wexford FC was started as a football club for local youth, which is why the WFC has several divisions – Under 19 years, 17 years, 15 years, and 13 years. Naturally, there is also a Senior division that consists of players older than 19 years. Although Wexford FC was started as an “all-male” club, a women’s division was also formed a few years later.
Before the 2006 season of the LOI (League of Ireland) had ended, the football club Dublin City became bankrupt. This opened a free spot for a team, and after the Wexford Youths applied for entry, they were granted the license for the First Division. From then onward, the WFC would enter a much more dynamic playing environment than just playing locally – which will bring them both woes and joys throughout the following years.
Only after a year of joining LOI, the Men’s division won the FAI Cup in 2008. This was an incredible feat to achieve, but in the later years, a string of unsuccessful matches would bring the team to the near-last places in the overall ranking. After their initial success, the WFC had changed managers four times (in 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2018) which proved demoralising to not only the players themselves but the fans as well, which is why an unprecedented event took place that would change the face of Wexford FC forever.
Although an exact date of establishment isn’t known, one thing is for sure – the Wexford Youths WFC was one of the founding league members of the Women’s National League of Ireland, which was established between 2011 and 2012. While the male senior team of Wexford FC proved to have a steep road, the Wexford WFC actually proved to be one of the strongest teams in their league ever, by winning multiple times. Today, the group of the WWFC participate in the highest senior division in the WNL (Women’s National League).
The Wexford Youths have two teams – under 17 years old division, and the senior (above 19 years) division. Although the divisions aren’t as numerous as those of the men, the achievements of the Women’s clubs are far more numerous than those of any other team playing under the colours of Wexford FC!
Tom Elmes will always hold a special place in the hearts of all Wexford Youths women players. Mr Elmes was a primary goal scorer for the Wexford FC senior team from its conception in 2007 till 2013, but it seems that he has achieved much more by becoming the senior coach of both the senior and underage WWFC members. Tom is also acting manager of the WWFC, a fact which is quite admirable. Scott Gaynor is another invaluable part of the women’s FC, who takes the role as “goalkeeping coach”. Mr Gaynor was also a former football player (goalkeeper position), who played for his hometown’s team of Athlone Town. The WWFC have indeed found something extraordinary. Ever since their team was founded for the first time, they haven’t changed their coach even once!
Although the match between the Wexford Youths and Ajax ended with a 1 – 4 result, emotions were flying high that day. The Wexford female players hoped that they would prevail in the Champions League Qualifier, but the Dutch team managed to assert their dominance from the very beginning, preventing the Youths from developing their strategy.
One player in particular that made her mark on Wexford Youth history is none other than Rianna Jarrett. Although her team suffered a defeat, Rianna valiantly led her team into “battle”. Unfortunately, that lead didn’t last more than a few minutes. The reason for that wasn’t because the Youth’s weren’t prepared, but because the Dutch team was composed of internationally gathered players, who were physically more prepared to run for the full 45 minutes.
The qualification spot was taken by Ajax, with the help of goal scorers Lisa van der Most, Ellen Jansen, Lois Oudermost, and Kay-Lee de Sanders. Although the Amsterdam team were playing a bit “relaxed” in the first half, they still retained their overall dominance over the ball.
The Youths were starting to feel their team spirit depleting until they were granted a 30-yard free-kick. It was precisely this situation that gave the opportunity to Rianna Jarrett to blast the net of the opposing team, with a successful corner shot.
The Dutch “revenge” wasn’t late, and nearly two minutes after the Youths temporary celebration, Kay Lee de Sanders left the Wexford defenders to stand in confusion as she scored a point for Ajax.
Ellen Jensen’s goal came with help from a wide diagonal pass, made by Soraya Verhoeve. Once the ball was heading towards Jensen, she made sure that it would glance off of her, and straight into the Youth’s net corner.
The Ferrycarrig Park clubhouse was the best location when it came to giving out the “Wexford F.C. Senior Player of the Year Award”. The recipient was none other than Connor Sutton, a brilliant player that had sustained an injury in the pre-season period; however, after his swift recovery, he had an incredible season playing for Wexford. It was the team’s coach, David Breen and team manager Brian O’Sullivan that gave Mr Sutton his award.
In this “awards night”, something happened for the first time – absolutely all Wexford League players attended the ceremony! Those include the two Youths Women’s football teams and the four Wexford F.C. teams. Additional attendance was recorded by many fans, who had the opportunity to see, meet and greet their favourite players. Among the most notable senior Wexford F.C. players that were present at the event, were John Morgan, Ross Kenny, Dean George, Owen McCormack, Aaron Dobbs, (who was recently joined Longford Town F.C.), and Corey Chambers. It was spectacular to see those accomplished players mingle alongside women’s champions such as Nicola Sinnott, Rianna Jarrett, Edel Kennedy and Katrina Parrock – all of which are remarkable players of the Wexford Youths Women F.C.
During this first celebratory event, there were eight Club Awards that were given to the following players:
Connor Sutton – Senior Player of the Year of Wexford FC
Kylie Murphy – Senior Player of the Year of Wexford Youths Women F.C.
Cian Larkin – “Under 19 Years Division” Player of the Year of Wexford FC
Shane Gibson – “Under 17 Years Division” Player of the Year of Wexford FC
Dylan Casey - “Under 15 Years Division” Player of the Year of Wexford FC
Blessing Kingsley – “Under 17 Years Division” Player of the Year of Wexford Youths Women FC
Evan Connolly – Club Goal of the Season
Anthony Cooper – Club Person of the Year
The “Supporter’s Trust” also presented each player of the Wexford Youths Women F.C. teams, with commemorative pennants, that represented their “treble success” of winning three trophies in the same season.
The Collective Sensory Group (CSG) is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2015. A passion product of two parents who have kids with special needs, the CSG’s primary goal is to facilitate, subsidise, and provide special needs children with the specific therapeutic treatments they might require. As a community-based organisation, it came as no surprise that CSG partnered up with Wexford FC, to spread awareness for children’s mental and physical health.
The Collective Sensory Group works with children from 0 to 18 years of age, by providing them with therapeutic and recreational programs. The therapeutic programs include Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language exercises, Play Therapy, Feeding Therapy, Therapeutic Listening, Sensory Integration, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. In the “recreational program”, participants will enjoy summer and seasonal camps, as well as themed days and Parent Support.